DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION (AIRMOBILE)
APO San Francisco 96450
General Orders
Number 7671
13 May 1970
AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR
1. TC 439. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.
PURDON, GERALD W. 294465994 SGT (Then SP4) US Army,
Company C,
2nd Battalion (Airmobile), 8th Cavalry
Awarded: |
Silver Star |
Date of action: |
01 April 1970 |
Theater: |
Republic of Vietnam |
Authority: |
By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress,
approved 2 July 1970. |
Reason: |
For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving
conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam.
Specialist Fourth Class Purdon distinguished himself by exceptionally
valorous actions on 1 April 1970, while serving as rifleman in the Republic of Vietnam.
As the base camp came under a heavy rocket, mortar, and ground attack, Specialist Fourth Class Purdon
moved to the perimeter to place effective fire on the advancing enemy force. When incoming
rounds ignited the ammunition dump, although only a few meters from the certain explosion, he continued
to repel the aggressors with small arms fire. After his weapon malfunctioned, he fought the hostiles
with hand-to-hand combat in a valiant effort to defend the base. His gallant action was in keeping with
the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United
States Army.
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FOR THE COMMANDER:
OFFICIAL:
E.C. MEYER
Colonel, GS
(Signature)
Chief
of Staff
BRUCE B. BINGHAM
1LT AGC
Asst AG
DISTRIBUTION:
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During the period immediately prior to the Cambodian incursion, United States and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
units conducted extensive operations along the South Viet Nam/Cambodian border. During March and April of 1970 the
2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) opened and closed seven fire bases to
support these operations.
Fire Support Base Illingworth, located on Route LTL-20 about 35 kilometers northwest of
Tay Ninh City, opened on 17 March, and was assaulted by a battalion of the 272nd NVA Regiment in the early morning
hours of 01 April 1970. The Base was closed on 04 April by the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, as the focus of US operations
shifted.
When the Fire Base closed, a total of 16 howitzers moved to FSB Wood (4 x 8 inch and 12 x 105mm howitzers
from 4 different units) which was a large concentration of artillery weapons for a relatively small Fire Support Base.
While the assault on FSB Illingworth cost the North Vietnamese nearly two hundred dead, the Americans paid a high
price too. US losses were 25 known dead and 54 wounded in action. The United States soldiers killed in action were
- A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR)
- A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery
- Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB), 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery
- B Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery
- PFC Thomas R. Bowen, Forestville, CA
- 1LT Cleaveland F. Bridgman, South Dartmouth, MA (Silver Star)
- SSG Benjamin V. Childress, Knoxville, TN
- SGT Syriac Hebert, Pine Bluff, AR
- SGT Robert H. Lane, Concord, TN
- Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB), 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery
- A Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry
- C Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry
- CPL Leroy J. Fasching, Wibaux, MT
- SGT Robert A. Hill, Lowell, OH
- PFC Roger J. McInerny, Richfield, MN
- CPL Michael R. Patterson, Dearborn, MI
- SGT Gerald W. Purdon, Cincinnati, OH (Silver Star)
- CPL Klaus D. Schlieben, Richmond, VA
- E Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry
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